Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, and that suggests that some people working on the new TMNT film really, really like Gareth Evans‘ film The Raid. The Indonesian martial-arts action picture is built on fight scenes that draw on pencak silat, the collective martial arts style of Indonesia. Choreographed by Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian, The Raid features some of the best fight scenes since Ong Bak, with fast, joint-shattering and face-breaking violence.

Looks like that movie is one of the ones that have influence on Paramount and Platinum Dunes’ delayedNinja Turtles. In a very long video interview, TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman says the fight scenes in the new film will be inspired by The Raid, as well as Fist of Legend.

Here’s the video interview, from The One Ring. For those who don’t have the time (nearly two hours!) or interest to watch the whole thing, the talk of martial arts influences comes in at the one-hour thirty-two minute mark. Here are some other timing notes:

(51:15) Basic discussion of Ninja Turtles

(1:01:30) Ninja Turtles won’t feature a teenage April O’Neil

1:05:00 – The original live-action film bridged the gap of the black and white comic books and the cartoon show

(1:31:00) Will Ninja Turtles emulate the mocap approach of films such as Rise of the Planet of the Apes?

Ninja Turtles is currently set to be directed by Jonathan Liebesman (Wrath of the Titans) from a script by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec, though that script is reportedly part of the issue with the delay of the film. While Ninja Turtles was originally planned for December 2013, it is now unlikely to be on screens until at least May 2014. [via CBM]